Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs began a two-day visit on Tuesday with inspections of key projects across the city, focusing on housing, technology and Northern Metropolis developments.

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, greeted residents at a light public housing project on Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long in the morning, accompanied by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin.

The project falls under a scheme providing 30,000 government-built temporary flats for families who have waited at least three years for public rental housing.

Ho said she had briefed Xia on the scheme’s progress and explained its construction method: Modular Integrated Construction.

The technique uses free-standing integrated modules manufactured in mainland Chinese factories, which undergo quality inspections before being installed on site.

“Everyone was highly interested to learn that the Greater Bay Area has large-scale factories, mechanised facilities and robotic applications to help Hong Kong address its housing problems. It shows the advantages of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area,” she said.